Automatic loom



Nov. 8, 1938. w. P. BIRD El AL AUTOIATIC L00]! 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1938 FIG. I

INVENTOQS.

N wm.

a M g m zm QMMO W TL A mum Nov. 8," 1938. w. F. BIRD ET AL AUTOMATIC LOOM Filed Feb. 3, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOQS.

WH/TWODTH E B/QD& WILL/AM P. HEM/TON BY /W RM hm ATTORNEY.

Nov. 8, 1938. w. F. BIRD ET A1. 2,136,331

AUTOIATIC LOOM Filed Feb. 3, 1938 'r sheets-sheet 5 FIG. I11

INVENTORS.

- WH/TWOPTH E B/DD & WILLIAM B. HEM/TON WWW ATTORNEY.

Nov. 8, 1938.

w. BIRD ET AL.

AUTOMATIC LOOM Filed Feb. 3. 1938 7 Sheets-Shet 4 INVE N TOR S WH/TWOD m /-T 5/20 2 W/LL/AM 2. HEW 7011/.

BY fu/ I Arrgr rifj Nov. 8, 1938. w.' F. BIRD ET AL 2,136,331

AUTOMATIC LOOM F iled Feb. 3, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.

WH/TWOP TH E B/Qme W/LL/AM L7. HEw o/v AT ORNEY.

' '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 AUTOMATIC LOOM Filed Feb. s, 1938 W. F. BIRD El AL FIG. V1

Nov. 8, 1938.

INVENTOQS. WH/TWOP/W E 8/20 a? W/LLMM Q. HEM/70M ATTORNEY.

Nov. 8, 1938.

w. F. BIRD ET AL.

AUTOMATIC LOOM Filed Feb. 3, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. X.

FIG.X1.

NVENTOQS.

WH/TWOQTH H 8/20 45 W/LLMM 2 HEWTO/V. BY 0m ATTOR Patented Nov. 8, 1938 2,136,331 su'rom'nc LOOM wmtwmn r. and, Wallingford, and William B.

Hewton, Philadelphia, Pa., asslgnors to Collins & Aikman Corporation, Philadelphia, rat, a

corporation of Delaware Application February a, 1938, sci-a1 No. 188,448

2'1 Claims. (01. 139-241) This invention relates to looms wherein two shuttles are employed and wherein the warps are so manipulated as to form superposed weaving sheds through which the respective shuttles are passed in opposite directions simultaneously,

with resultant production at one time, -'of a double fabric, two separate superposed fabrics, or a double pile fabric which may be cut apart on the loom or after removal from the loom, to produce two separate pile fabrics. This application is a continuation in part of co-pending applications Serial No. 94,726 and Serial No. 750,626, and includes changes and improvements in the structure of the replenishing mechanism and its initiate ing means. These co-pending applications have matured into United States Letters Patents Nos, 2,111,526 and 2,111,525, respectively.

More particularly, this invention has reference to multi-shed looms, with automatic weft replenishing mechanism at one side of the loom, and

I feeler initiating means on the opposite "side,

- forward or beat-up position. Each side 'of the.

lay is provided with a shuttle box composed of whereby replenishment is effected downwardly from above while the lay is substantially in its two superposed shuttle compartments. The shuttles may be made to conform to the shape of the shed which they traverse and the compartments are shaped in a similar manner.

It has been proposed heretofore, among other ways, to effect weft replenishment in multi-shed looms by inserting the new weft supply substantially fromoneside of the shuttle. This method of replenishment has been found tohave many disadvantages, including dimculties encountered in attempting to effectively control the-checking of the shuttlesin their respective boxes during weaving and in adjusting the shuttle boxes aswell as in manipulating the new and spent bobbin weft ends. I

An object ofthis invention is to overcome the drawbacks heretofore present in connection with weft replenishment in multi-shed looms, which partment by feeler mechanism as hereinafter I more fully described.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a multi-shed loom, feeler and related mechanism of simple and rugged construction for indicating substantial weft exhaustion and for initiati'ng weft replenishment of the shuttle in either a close or more remote shuttle box compartment on the replenishing side of the loom by a single replenishing mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide in-a device of the kind referred to, automatic means operable incident to the transfer, of a bobbin to its position in a shuttle to place another bobbin in a position preparatory to transfer.

Further objects and advantages of thisinvention-will be manifest from the detailed description of a .preferred embodiment, illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I is a fragmentary view inside elevation of a portion of a loom conveniently embodyi the present improvement.

Fig. II is a front elevation of a loom with the. central portion broken out and with certain parts omitted to more clearly show the location and/25 arrangement of the present improvements.

Fig. III is a fragmentary detail assembly view. partly in section, showing the lower portion of the transfer mechanism which is mounted on a fixed portion of the loom.

Fig. IV is a side elevational detail assembly of the weft hook mechanism and its relation to the shuttle boxes.

Fig. Y is a view similar to Fig. IV of the weft cutting mechanism, a portion of the supply magazine, and shuttle boxes.

Fig. VI is a view of the transfer arm stop mechanism.

Fig. VII is a view of a portion of the transfer arm and the dagger, together with the dagger settingand actuating hunters.

Fig. VIII is a top plan view of the feeler mechanism and control parts. 1

Fig. IX is a side elevation of the mechanism set forth in Fig. VIII. Y I

Fig. X is a detail view of. the magazine cradle.

Fig. XI is a detail view of a magazine attachment which provides slack in the weft yarn.

Referring first more particularly to Fig. I of the drawings, a frame III has appropriately journalled thereon crankshaft H and a lower or main shaft 12, whichlatter may be driven from any suitable source of power in a known manner. The lay' swords it are mounted on a sword shaft J4 and oscillate therewith. Sword shaft I4 is journalled in the frame and serves to support a part of the picking mechanism. Intermeshing gears l5 and I6 fixed on the shafts H and I2 respectively, actuate theoscillating lay beam ll through pitmans l8, which are pivotally connected to the swords. Carried on the lay beam i1 is a reed l9 which is supported at its top by a reed cap 20, and the two shuttle boxes generally indicated at 21 and 22, (Fig. II) Each shuttle box comprises two compartments, 2 Ia,2 lb and 22a, 22b, respectively, (Figs. IV and V), the construction of which will be more fully set forth hereinafter. I

In general, the picking mechanism is the same on both sides of the loom; and fixed on the sword shaft l4 are supporting members 23 for the picker sticks 24 (Fig. 11). Pivoted at 25 is a treadle arm 26 carrying a shoe 2! adapted to be engaged with picker rollers 28, which are adjustably mounted (Fig. I) on the double-armed supporting member 29. The picker sticks are pivoted on. short shafts 30 which are fixed on supporting members 23, and comprise a foot 3| for engagement with threadle 26 and an extension 32 whereto is attached one end of a spring 33 which is fixed at its other end to the loom frame l0 and tends to keep the picker stick in its outward position. Any conventional picker stick check means I may be used, but since this forms no part of this invention, it is omitted for the sake of clarity. Spring 34 (Fig. I) fixed to the loom at one end tends to counter-balance the weight of the treadle.

Numerals 35, 35', designate pickers which ar built to conform to the shape of a cross-section of the compartments of the shuttle box 2|, and the picker stick extends upwardly through registering slots in the lay beam l1, both of the shuttle compartments and the pickers.

A double picker 36, having a central lateral extension 35' extending into a rear portion of shuttle box 22, may be used on the replenishing side of the loom. This construction provides a wide bobbin passage (Fig. V) and the use of a relatively wide shuttle as the relatively wide shuttle is all that need be supported by the floor of the upper compartment 22m Leaf spring picker check 35" aids in the checking of both shuttles and prevents the picker from reboundinz.

Each shuttle box is mounted on the movable lay. and. as heretofore set forth, includes two shuttle compartments, one above the other, in which the shuttles 31 and 3| are boxed and held after passing through the sheds formed by the warp threads.

Viewed from a position forwardly of the loom (Fig. II) the transfer mechanism per se is illustrated as being fixed on the right-hand side of the loom frame. 'I'he magazine proper comprises channel-shaped guides 39 and 45 for the descending bobbins 4| of the supply. On the channel guide 39 is securedha weft slack producing plate 42 (Fig. XI) which deflects the path of the weft from the tips of the supply bobbins'to free end holder 45. The slack obtained, as the bobbin drops below the cradle to the end of the magazine, is sufficient to avoid the danger of the bobbin becoming tilted with the result that the bobbin-engaging transfer member will not properly contact the bobbin for the transfer.

To channel guide is secured bracket 44 to which is pivoted at 45 transfer head guide. 44. Spring 41 (Fig. V) maintains this guide 45 in vertical position against the end of the magazine so that the pivoted transfer head 8 is n alignment with a full bobbin preparatory to the transfer into a substantially exhausted shuttle. The spring 4'! permits rearward movement of the guide 45 in the event of jamming during transfer. The member 49 on which transfer head 48 is pivoted is in turn pivoted as at 50 to transfer arm 5|, loosely mounted on shaft 52, and is yieldingly pressed against the lower arm 53 of bifurcated member 54 fixed on shaft 52, as set forth in copending application Serial No. 94,756, above mentioned. An arm 55, integral with the bifurcated member 54, supports a stud 56 on which dagger 51 is pivoted. Latch mechanism controlled as hereinafter more fully set forth elevates and positions the dagger for engagement with either bunter 58' or 59. The bunters are adjustable in length and in the illustrated embodiment (Fig. VII) bunter 58, closer to the sword shaft l4, gives transfer arm 5| through dagger 51 its short stroke and bunter 49 its longer stroke.

Shaft 60, (Figs. II, III and IV) is journalled in brackets 6| and G2 on opposite sides of the loom and carries adjustable collar 63. Spring 54, one end of which is fixed, returns the shaft to its normal position after it is actuated. Loosely mounted on said shaft 50 is a step sleeve H0 comprising the arm 65 (Fig. III), latch arm 66 having a bifurcated end and dagger lifter arm 61 to which is adjustably secured roller 68 by which dagger 51 is raised. A short clockwise movement (Fig. VIII) of shaft will cause the clutch collar I54, fixed to the shaft 60 (Fig. III), to engage the step sleeve llll and to rotate it sufliciently so the one tooth of the bifurcated arm will engage pivoted member 69 and a longer movement will result in the other tooth engaging 69 to set the dagger in alignment with the selected bunter. After the step sleeve H0 is positioned by the latch, the shaft 60 returns to its original position because of the influence of spring 84 (Fig. IX). Stud 10 on the forward beat of the lay strikes the extension Ii of member 69 and permits step sleeve (I to rotate counter-clockwise to its original position.

The movements of shaft ill and the positioning of the dagger 51 are initiated by side slip feelers 12, I4 (Figs. II, VIII and IX) secured to the loom frame. As hereinbefore stated, the shuttles are picked simultaneously from opposite sides of the loom. One or the other of the feeler tips ll contacts a shuttle after each throw and forces one of the feeler members 15, I1. forwardly of the loom. Both feeler members I5, 11, are aligned with an extension on lever 15 pivoted at its end on pin 1!. Torsion spring ll keeps lever ll against one or both of members l4, 11. Pin ll, pivotally secured to lever ll, extends rearwardly of the loom and in under the head 42 of chopper 0 when not moved out by a feeler contacting a bobbin. After each pick, the forward movement of the lay moves the pin from under the chopper head 42 and chopper llpivots about pin 44 without moving adjustable link 45 during normal weaving. Upon detection of substantial exhaustion of a bobbin in either shuttle by the feelers, a side slipping of the feeler tip will permit pin II to remain under chopper head 42 and the pin serves as a.fulcrum for the chopper It. When this occurs, movement of the shaft 6| takes place through link 85 and rearward extension I. on hub 51 fast on shaft 50. The extent of movement determines the position of dagger 51 and its alignment with one or the other of the hunters 58, 5! on the opposite side of the loom.

Chopper 00 is moved two different extents by cam actuated link 00 (Figs. I and II) The actuating cam 09 has two lifts and the cam surface acts on roller 00 of bell-crank lever 0|, which i is connected to link 00. Spring 02,'fixed at one end to theloom frame, holds roller 00 in engagement with the cam surface. The chopper is actuated by the cam once for each pick of weft and the high and low portions of the cam are from the cam. On the next succeeding pick, the

chopper receives its longer movement. It will thus be seen that in the event of detection ofsubstantial weft exhaustion in either shuttle, shaft 00 will be actuated asabove described and the latch mechanism will align the dagger 51 with the desired bunter for bobbin replenishment after the next pick of the shuttles.

The provision of a double different lift cam' and feelers, which move the pin from under'the chopper on each pick, is preferred to having the cam moving the chopper the same extent during each loom revolution, and the use of two pins, one for each feeler, which are caused to move .into position under the chopper as by the side movement of the feeler tip because of the relatively delicate mechanism necessary, the holding mechanism required, as well as the desirability of stopping the loom when the shuttles are mispositioned with the resulting inaccurate boxing and banging off of multi-shed looms equipped with conventional picking mechanism.

To insure loom stoppage when the shuttles are improperly positioned by the operator, there is provided on shaft I2 a lifting cam 90 for controlling bell-crank lever 04 .pivoted as at 05.

Spring 05 keeps the roller of the bell-crank lever 04 in engagement with they cam. One arm of the bell-crank lever passes under the picking-mechanism, and pivotally connected to the end,there-.

of, is link 01 which passes through plate 00 (Fig. VlIl) on the loom frame. Spring pressed pin 99 is aligned with the shipper handle I00 and enters, after each pick, into aperforation of the the shuttle compartment in which there should be no shuttle. If a shuttle is present. pin 99 is pressed back against the shipper handle which becomes disengaged and the loom is stopped.

It is desirable to render the replenishing mechanism inoperative during reversal of the loom to effect pick-outs. When reversal'takes piace the shipper handle. I00 is in the off position and spring pressed arm IN is moved to the right (Fig. VIII).' This movement transferred through gears I02, I00 and arm I04, withdraws the pin 0| and holds it out from under the chopper head 02. Movement of arm I04 is limited by extension 'stop I05 contacting a convenient fixed portion (not shown). g

Fig. IV illustrates the improved weft-withdrawing means for the severed weft extending to selvages. The hooks are lay-actuated through bunterI00 engaging da er I01. As wFll be seen from Fig. IV, the da e I01 is elevated to a position against adjustable stop I00 on either of the above described movements of shaft 60 by the arm I09, which is loosely. mounted on step dagger I01 strikes stnp l00, arm I00 holds the of the transfer arm 5I.

two in contact by spring pressure and the weftwithdrawing means is actuated. Shaft H2 is Journalled in brackets 0, I I4 to the right-hand side of the loom forwardly of the shaft 50 and keyed thereon is two-armed lever 5; (Fig. IV) at one endof which is the dagger I01. At its other end, lever H5 is connected by give-way connection II6 to an extension of hook member IIO. Tho hooks are integral and each has a pro- Jection II1 extending into a groove in another member so as to facilitate insertion of the sever'ed weft and to prevent withdrawal of the severed weftfrom the hooks. Fixed guide IIO provides a straight path for the hooks. Theshaft II2 and the hooks are yieldingly held in retracted position against stop I20, by spring I (Fig. V) secured to therbracket H4 and to sleeve. I20, fixed on shaft H2, at its other end.

On transfer arm shaft 52 is loosely mounted two-armed cam lever I24. Spring 425, having one end attached to an extension on bracket II4 (Fig. V), retains two-armed cam lever I24 against cam I 25 fixed in shaft I I2. Engagement of the dagger I01 with its bunter moves cam I25 and the two-armed cam lever.to actuate the camtype weft cutters and magazine cradle mecha-, nism through links I21 and I20, respectively. As stated, link I20 operates the cradle I20 which .holds the reserve supply of bobbinsout of engagement with the bobbin in alignment with the transfer mechanism through arm I30. Movement of link I20 rearwardly causes cradle portion IOI to release a single bobbin to a position at the end of the magazine. The end support for the bobbin comprises an extension I02 on guide and,

adjustable spring pressed Jpivoted member I00 (Fig. V).

The link In is yieldable and moves "cam cut ters I04 and I05 and the supporting carriage in fixed guide I00. The cutters are normally held open by springs I31- -I40 and are closed by the slots in the shuttles and shuttle compartments as the cutters are moved rearwardly of the loom to sever the weft near'the shuttle eye.

Fig. VI illustrates that portion of the replenishing mechanism which preventsoverthrow of the transfer arm 5| during insertion of a full bobbin into either shuttle. Arm I is pivoted on a fixed portion of the loom and is moved only when it is desired to replenish a shuttle in the lower compartment 22b. When the shaft 00 receives the short stroke from the chopper -00, stud I42 moves up to lever I but does not move it and hence, stop I44 limits the downward movement On the longer nfovement of the shaft, stud I 42 on an arm of step sleeve IIO engages lever I40 and pulls stop I45 into the path of movement of the transfer arm. The lever I4I has an adjustable stop I40 and moves'stop carriage I41 by the flexible cable I40.

Cable I40 passes about pulley I40 which is'rotatabiy mounted on fixed pintle I50. The carriage I41 is returned to the position wherein stop I44 is aligned with the transfer arm by spring I 5I pressing against it and the fixed member, I52, ofthe magazine.

Referring specificallyto Fig. 111, the shaft 00,

which extends from one side of the loom to the other, carries, on the replenishing side of the loom, elevating arms, for dagger I01 controlling the weft withdrawing hooks, the cutters and the cradle, as well as the dagger 51 which controls the transfer arm 5I.

The loom frame I0 and bracket 0|, in conjunction with collar I50, limit the lateral movement of shaft 50. A clutch member I 54 is flxed to the shaft 50 and moves the step sleeve I I clockwise (Fig. I). When the shaft 60 receives its short movement, the first tooth of latch member 55 engages 59, the transfer dagger 51 is lifted into alignment with the hunter 58 and stud I42 moves up to, but does not move the lever I43 and the stop carriage mechanism. In addition, the dagger I01 is elevated against stop I00, as hereinbefore described, and the bobbin transfer is effected and the mechanism reset. When the shaft 60 receives its greater movement, the second tooth of latch member 55 engages 59, the transfer dagger 51 is lifted into alignment with the hunter 59 and stud I42 moves up to and moves the lever I43 and the stop carriage mechanism. The dagger I01 is elevated the same extent as on the shorter movement by virtue of the hub of arm I09 being loose on step sleeve H0 and moved therewith through Iensioned torsion spring III. Stop collar I55 is also fixed to step sleeve [I0 and maintains arm I09 out of engagement with the dagger I01 during normal weaving. Stop collar and the hub of arm move together on the short movement of shaft 50, but on the longer stroke, stop I08 limits the movement of dagger I01 and arm I09, and the projection stop collar I55 moves away from it. The shaft 50 is reset by the spring 54 before the step sleeve H0 is released from the control of its latch arm 55 and member 59 by stud 10 on the lay I1. When the stud 10 releases the latch, the step sleeve returns to its position by gravity and stop collar I55 pressing on the loose hub.

- Ope ation The mechanism above described in detail operates selectively as follows, when substantial exhaustion of the weft on the bobbin of either shuttle is detected by the feeler mechanism. The shuttles are positioned at opposite sides of the loom, one in an upper compartment and the other in a lower compartment. The arrangement of shuttles is such that the shuttle 38 is in the up per compartment on the feeler side of the loom as the chopper 03 is. about to receive its shorter stroke from-the low lift portion of actuating cam 09. If substantial weft exhaustion is detected by the side-slip feeler, extension 15 of the feeler will not remove the pin 0| from the path of the chopper head 02 and the pin" will serve as a fulcrum for the chopper 33 and shaft 50 will rotate sufficiently so that the step sleeve IIO will be engaged by clutch I54, fast on shaft 50 and the first tooth of latch arm 56 will engage the member 59 and be retained thereby. The move-,- ment of step sleeve H0 and its arm 01 will elevate dagger 51 (Fig. VII) into the path of movementof hunter 50 on the lay I1, and on the next forward movement of the lay, the transfer arm i on shaft 52 will descend and a bobbin will be transferred into the shuttle 30. Simultaneously with the above outlined operation, arm- I09 on step sleeve IIO moves the dagger I01 upwardly against stop i00 (Fig. IV) and into the path of bunter I05 to operate the weft-withdrawing lever H5 and its hooks so thatv the severed weft extending to the selvage is withdrawn ,as the lay I1 moves rearwardly.

The movement of the lever II5 keyed to shaft ill will move cam I25 and two-armed cam lever I24, and through link I21 will actuate the cam cutters I34, I35 to sever the thread from the old bobbin. Cradle I29 will also be activated and a full bobbin will pass over cradle portion I3I to the end of the magazine in position for insertion into a shuttle. when the lay I1 moves rearwardly, the parts assume their original positions, as stud has released the latch after the daggers 51 and I01 were engaged by the hunters 50 and I05, respectively.

Detection of substantial exhaustion of the lower shuttle occurs when the chopper 83 is about to receive its longer stroke. In this case, extension 11 fails to remove the pin 8| from the path of the chopper head" and the pin 0| will again act as the fulcrumfor the chopper head to actuate the shaft 60 through its greater movement so that the second tooth of latch arm 55 will engage 59 and elevate dagger 51 into the path of movement of the hunter 59 on the lay I1. Stop I45 will be drawn into the path of the transfer arm. On the next forward movement of the lay, the transfer arm on shaft 52 descends and a bobbin will be transferred through the upper shuttle compartment into the shuttle 31 in the lower compartment. As before, the dagger I01 will again be moved against stop I00 but stop collar I55 on shaft 50 will move out of engagement with the hub of arm I09 and reengage it when resetting of the mechanism again takes place. It will be clear that the cutters I34 and I35 and the weft-withdrawing hook lever II5, as well as the crade I29, will be operated as before through shaft H2 and cam I25. 7

Having described a preferred embodiment of our invention, we claim:

1. In a loom of the bobbin-changing type; a pair of automatic weft-replenishing bobbin shuttles; a shuttle box at one side of the loom comprising a pair of aligned compartments for boxing the shuttles and a continuous bobbin passage therethrough; a bobbin support; means for engaging a bobbin on the support and for transferring it in the same substantially straight line into a shuttle in either of the compartments of the shuttle box; means for giving said firstnamed means either of the selected extents of movement and means including bobbin feeler mechanism for governing said selection.

2. In a loom of the bobbin-changing type; a pair of v automatic weft-replenishing bobbin shuttles; a shuttle box at one side of the loom comprising a pair of sup rposed verticallyaligned compartments for boxing the shuttles and a continuous bobbin passage therethrough; a bobbin support; means for engaging a bobbin on the support and for transferring it substantially vertically into a shuttle in either of the compartments of the shuttle box; means for giving said first-named means either of the selected extentsof movement and means including bobbin feeler mechanism for governingsaid selection.

3. In a multiple'shed loom of the bobbinchanging type; a pair of shuttles; a shuttle box mounted at one side of the loom comprising two superposed vertically-aligned shuttle compartments with a'straight vertical opening extending continuously therethrough; weft-replenishing mechanism including a lay-actuated member arranged to be passed two diflerent extents into the vertical opening of the shuttle box to selectively replenish exhausted individual shuttles in the respective compartments; means for giving said member either of the selected extents of movement and means including bobbin feeler mechanism for governing said selection.

-4- In a loom of thebobbin-changing type; a pair of automatic weft-replenishing bobbin shuttles; picking mechanism for picking the shuttles I 9,186,831 oppositely and simultaneously across the loom;

a bobbin on the support and transferring it vertically into a shuttle in either compartment of the shuttle box and means for giving said firstnamed means either of the two selected extents of movement and meansincluding bobbin feeler ferent times while said shuttles respectively rest temporarily in their respective compartments mechanism for governing the extent-of movement.

5. In a double shuttle loom of the bobbinchanglng type; a shuttle box with two superposed vertically-aligned shuttle compartments at each side of the loom; arpair of shuttles; means for concurrently throwing the shuttles in opposite directions between corresponding compartments of the respective shuttle boxes; a magazine for filled bobbins on one side of the loom; and means movable two different extents relatively to said shuttle compartments to vertically replace bobbins in the respective shuttles with filled bobbins from the magazine at difin one of the :shuttle boxes; means including bobbin feeler mechanism for selecting in which of either shuttle compartment a shuttle is to be replenished and actuating means for the movable means whereby a bobbin is transferred into a'shuttie in the selected compartment.

6. In a bobbin-changing loom; a shuttle on each side of the loom; picking mechanism for picking the shuttles oppositely and simultaneously across the loom; a shuttle box comprising two aligned shuttle compartments having a continuous bobbin passage, therethrough; bobbin replenishing means comprising a member movable two diiferent extents to engage a bobbin and to transfer it into a shuttle in either compartment depending on the extent of movement of the movable means; replenishing initiating means including bobbin feeler mechanism at the opposite side of the loom for detecting substantial weft exhaustion and-for selecting which of the two extents of movement the movable means receives and means for. moving the movable means whereby replenishing is effected.

7. In a loom according to the combination set forth in claim 6; a chopper; a fulcrum about which said chopper pivots, after detection of substantial weft exhaustion by the bobbin feeler mechanism, to set the replenishing means for theselected of the two extents of movement of the movable member.

8. In a loom according to the combination set forth in claim 6; a cradle; exhausted bobbin weft-severing mechanism and means actuated with the movable bobbin engaging member to operate the cradle and the severing mechanism.

9. In a 100m according to the combination set forth in claim 16; a shipper handle on the. detector side of the loom; movable detecting means aligned with the shipper handle during weaving; actuating means for the aligned means to position it in feeling position opposite a shuttle compartment in which no shuttleis to be pres-' ent, whereby the detecting means will be moved and the shipper handle, will be disengaged in the event of the presence of a shuttle in the compartment opposite the said detecting means as the lay approaches front center.

'10. In a loom according to the combination aligned shuttle compartments having a continuous bobbin passage therethrough; bobbinreplenishing means comprising a member movable two 5 different extents to engage a bobbin and to transfer it into a shuttle in either compartment depending upon the extent of movement of the movablemeans; replenishing initiating means including bobbin feeler mechanism at the opposite 2o side of the loom for detecting substantial weft exhaustion and for selecting which of the two extents of movement of the movable means receives; a chopper; a movable chopper fulcrum;

means on the bobbin feeler mechanism for con- 25 I trolling the relative position of said fulcrum and the chopper; setting means for the replenishing means;'actuating means for the chopper to cause it to engage the, fulcrum and to set the setting means and means for moving the movable means so whereby replenishment is effected.

12. In a loom according to the combination set forth in claim 11, wherein the setting means comprises a' double latch device. 4 I

13. In a loom according to the combination set forth in claim 11 having a releasing means on the lay and wherein the setting means comprises a double latch device which is released after setting, on the next forward'movement of the lay.

14. In a bobbin-changing loom; a shuttle on 40 each side of the loom; picking mechanism for picking the shuttles oppositely and simultaneously across the loom; a shuttle box comprising two aligned shuttle compartments having a continuous bobbin passage therethrough; bobbin re plenishing means comprising a member movable two different extents to engage a bobbin and to transfer it into a shuttle in either compartment depending on the extent of movement of the movable means; replenishing initiating means in- 5 cluding bobhln feeler mechanism at the opposite sideof the loom for detecting substantial weft exhaustion andfor s'electingwhich of the two extents of movement the movable means receives; a shaft; a loose sleeve on said shaft; 9. setting mechanism integral with said sleeve; means for rotating said sleeve on the shaft ;.means through which the bobbin feeler mechanisms motion from detection of weft exhaustion is transmitted to the shaft and means for moving the movable means whereby replenishment is effected.

15. In a loom according to the combination set forth in claim 14; wherein the means rotating the sleeve consists of a clutch fixed to the shaft-1 g 16. In a loom according to the combination set forth in claim 14; a weft hook mechanism; a weft hook mechanism dagger on a fixed portion of the loom; a vbunter on the lay and means on the sleeve for aligning the weft hook dagger and 70 '1 the hunter during the replenishing cycle.

1'7. In a loom according to the combination set forth in claim 14, a dagger for the movable bobtwo diflerent extents depending upon which compartment replenishment is to be effected.

18. In a bobbin-changing loom; a shuttle on each side of the loom; picking mechanism for picking the shuttle oppositely and simultaneously across the loom; a shuttle box comprising two aligned shuttle compartments having a continuous bobbin passage therethrough; bobbin replenishing means comprising a member movable two different extents to engage a bobbin and to transfer it into a shuttle in either compartment depending upon the extent of movement of the movable means; a magazine for full bobbins; a holding mechanism for the weft ends extending from the bobbin: a deflector on said magazine about which the ends must pass when they are held by the holding mechanism, whereby sufllcient slack will be provided when the bobbin is moved to the end of the magazine to prevent it from being tilted. I

19. In a bobbin-changing loom; a shuttle on each side of the loom; picking mechanism for picking the shuttles oppositely and simultaneously across the loom, a shuttle box comprising two aligned shuttle compartments having a continuous bobbin passage therethrough; bobbin replenishing means comprising a member movable'two different extents to engage a bobbin and to transfer it into a shuttle in either compartment depending upon the extent of movement of the movable means; said picking mechanism comprising a double picker, having a lateral extension, operating both compartments; replenishing initiating means for detecting substantial exhaustion and for selecting which of the two extents of movement the movable means receives and means for moving the movable means, whereby replenishment is effected. V

20. In a bobbin-changing loom, a shuttle on each side ,of the loom; picking mechanism for picking the shuttles oppositely and simultaneous- 1y across the loom; a shuttle box comprising two aligned shuttle compartments having a continuous bobbin passage therethrough; bobbin replenishing means comprising a member movable two different extents to engage a bobbin and to transfer it into a shuttle in either compartment depending upon the extent of movement of the movable means; a weft hook mechanism comprising a series of weft hooks spanning the path of the severed yarn from the exhausted shuttle; replenishing initiating means for detecting substantial weft exhaustion and for selecting which of the two extents of movement the movable means receives and means movable with the movable means for actuating the weft hook mechanism.

21. In a bobbin-changing loom; a shuttle on each side of the loom; picking mechanism for picking the shuttles oppositely and simultaneously across the loom; a shuttle box comprising two aligned shuttle compartments having a continuous bobbin passage therethrough; bobbin repien-. ishing mechanism comprising a member movable two diiferent extents to engage a bobbin and to transfer it into a shuttle in either compartment depending upon the extent of movement of the movable means; a stop mechanism for the movable means comprising two elements which may individually limit the extent of movement of the movable means and one of which elements is normally in a position to do so, after detection of weft exhaustion in one of the shuttles; means for moving said one element out of its position and the other of said elements into limiting position, after detection of weft exhaustion in the other of said shuttles; replenishing initiating means for detecting substantial weft exhaustion and selecting which of the two extents of movement the movable means receives and means for moving the movable means whereby replenishment is effected.

WHITWORTH F. BIRD. WILLIAM R. HEWTON.

CERTIFICATE OF commoner.

Patent Io 2,156,531.

anrrwoara r. BIRD, E'l AL.

November 8, 1958.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second colimn, line 20,

for the reference numeral "J 9" read 59; line 52, for

'(Fig. VIII)" 'read'(F'ig. VII); and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of December, A. D. 1958.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

